Strawberry plant named &#34;Florida Sensation&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry ( Fragaria×ananassa ), which originated from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross between ‘FL 05-107’ and ‘FL 02-58’. The new strawberry, named ‘Florida127’, is distinguished by its ability to produce consistently high yields of large and moderately firm, brightly colored fruit that are exceptionally sweet in flavor when grown in west central Florida or other areas that have a subtropical climate similar to that of west central Florida.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Florida127’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne) plant named ‘Florida127’. Thisnew strawberry plant is distinguished by its ability to produce highearly and total yields of fruit that are exceptionally and consistentlylarge and sweetly flavored when grown in west central Florida. Asexualpropagation was performed at Balm, Fla. where the selection was made andplants were tested. Contrast is made to ‘Strawberry Festival’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,739) and ‘Florida Radiance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,363), currently the dominant varieties in Hillsborough County,Florida, for reliable description. This new variety is a promisingcandidate for commercial success because it produces very large,brightly colored, and easy-to-harvest fruit that are moderately firm andhighly flavorful during the entire Florida market window.

This strawberry plant (genotype) originated in a strawberry breedingplot in Balm, Fla. The seed parent was ‘FL 05-107’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.23,042), a strawberry variety with high early-season yield potential,compact plant habit, and very firm fruit. The pollen parent was FL02-58, an unreleased breeding selection with the ability to producelarge fruit with excellent flavor. The seeds resulting from thecontrolled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse, and theresulting seedlings were planted and allowed to produce daughter plantsby asexual propagation (i.e. by runners). Four daughter plants from eachseedling were transplanted to raised beds, where they fruited.‘Florida127’ strawberry (as represented by four daughter plants from theoriginal seedling) exhibited high yields and large fruit size, andtherefore was selected for further evaluation. ‘Florida127’ wasselection number 127 in the 2009-2010 stage 1 trial, and thus was giventhe breeding trial designation of FL 09-127. ‘Florida127’ has beenasexually propagated annually by runners, and further test plantingshave established that the vegetative and fruit characteristics of thepropagules are identical to the initial daughter plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Florida127’, when grown in a subtropical fall and winter climate, isset apart from all other strawberry plants by a combination of thefollowing characteristics: moderately compact growth habit; ease ofharvest; and very steady but high yield of fruit that are consistentlylarge in size, bright red, moderately firm and sweetly flavorful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show a typical specimen of a 5-month-oldplant and fruit as seen in February, 2012, in west central Florida.

FIG. 1. Shows whole plants, including leaves, inflorescences, and fruitat varying stages of ripeness.

FIG. 2. Shows a close-up of ripe fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following botanical description is that of mature plants of theclaimed variety grown under the ecological conditions (warm days, coolnights) prevailing in Balm, Fla., in March. Colors are objectivelydescribed using the L*a*b* color scale with a colorimeter.

-   Phenotypic description of Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne ‘Florida127’:-   Plant:    -   -   Average height.—26 cm.        -   Average width.—28 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately compact, semi-erect plants that are            not overly dense.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—4 to 7 depending on seasonal            conditions.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Leaf:    -   -   Overall description.—Pinnately compound with three leaflets.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—17.5 cm.        -   Average diameter.—3 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Light to medium.        -   Pubescence density.—Moderate to sparse.        -   Pose of hairs.—Ascending.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Color.—Medium green (L*=34.3, a*=−10.9, b*=13.6).-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—Terminal leaflet, 9 mm; lateral leaflets, 4 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.-   Stipule:    -   -   Length.—30 mm.        -   Width.—17 mm along base of petiole attachment.        -   Anthocyanin.—Slight.-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Average length.—78 mm.        -   Average breadth.—68 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.15.        -   Shape in cross section.—concave.        -   Color, upper surface.—Medium gray-green (L*=34.7, a*=−10.5,            b*=13.1).        -   Glossiness.—Slight gloss.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate to slightly rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Rounded.        -   Pubescence density.—Sparse.        -   Texture.—Moderately smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Secondary leaflets:    -   -   Average length.—70 mm.        -   Average breadth.—68 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.03.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Color, upper surface.—Medium gray-green (L*=34.7, a*=−10.5,            b*=13.1).        -   Glossiness.—Slight gloss.        -   Base shape.—Oblique rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Obtuse.        -   Pubescence density.—Sparse.        -   Texture.—Moderately smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.-   Leaflet margins: Crenate, with an average of 22 serrations per    terminal leaflet and 17 per secondary leaflet.-   Stolons:    -   -   Number of daughter plants.—25-40, depending on environmental            conditions.        -   Anthocyanin.—Variable; absent to moderate.        -   Thickness.—2-3 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Very sparse, nearly glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time of flowering.—Short-day but exhibits partial            remontancy.        -   Position relative to canopy.—Flowers open at or below canopy            height.        -   Branching of the inflorescence.—At or very close to the            crown.-   Petals:    -   -   Number.—6 to 8.        -   Length.—11 mm.        -   Width.—10 mm.        -   Mean diameter of the corolla (i.e. the petals            collectively).—32 mm.        -   Number of stamens.—Average of 27-   Calyx:    -   -   Diameter of calyx relative to corolla.—Same.        -   Color.—Medium green (L*=35.3, a*=−11.3, b*=13.8).-   Pedicels:    -   -   Attached to mature primary fruit.—12.5 to 16.0 cm long,            depending on time of season. At peak production, the plant            will have several crowns, each producing a truss, and each            truss will have 3-7 pedicels. Inforescences branch very            close to the crown, rendering the peduncle rarely visible.-   Fruit:    -   -   Mean fruit weight.—Greater than ‘Strawberry Festival’ and            greater than or equal to that of ‘Florida Radiance’ (Table            1).        -   Shape.—Medium conical to cordate in shape.        -   Weight, primary fruit.—35-45 g.        -   Weight, secondary and tertiary fruit.—15-35 g.        -   Fruit flavor.—Sweet, partly due to the consistently high            soluble solids content (SSC) of the fruit and moderate            acidity (Table 2).        -   Fruit cavity.—Occasional on primary fruit but rare on            secondary or tertiary fruit.        -   Achenes.—Slightly sunken, giving the fruit a smooth            appearance.        -   External fruit color.—Glossy bright red (a*=38.9).        -   Internal fruit color.—Medium red (a*=24.0).        -   Evenness of color.—Even to slightly uneven during cold and            cloudy conditions.        -   Flesh and skin firmness at full ripe stage.—Moderately firm.        -   Rain damage.—‘Florida127’ is less resistant to cracking of            the fruit by rain than ‘Strawberry Festival’ and ‘Florida            Radiance’.-   Total yield: Greater than ‘Strawberry Festival’ during both the    2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons (Table 1). Yield was not different    from ‘Florida Radiance’ during the 2012-13 season, except in    January, when the marketable yield of ‘Florida127’ was significantly    greater (Table 1).-   Preferred planting period: October 1st to October 15^(th) in    west-central Florida-   Nursery performance: ‘Florida127’ is expected to perform well in    nursery situations, due to the production of many runners, which    results in sturdy, compact daughter plants. This is in contrast to    ‘Florida Radiance’, whose daughter plants have weak petioles that    are susceptible to breakage during digging and handling.-   Disease resistance: ‘Florida127’ is moderately susceptible to    Botrytis fruit rot (caused by Botrytis cinerea), similar to ‘Florida    Radiance’. ‘Florida127’ is resistant to anthracnose fruit rot    (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum).

TABLE 1 Performance of three strawberry genotypes during the 2011-12 and2012-13 seasons in Balm, FL. Marketable yield (g/plant) CultivarNovember December January February March Total Wt/fruit (g) ^(z) 2011-12Florida127 12.7 a^(y) 103.8 b 182.5 a 428.0 a 293.2 a 1,020.1 a 25.8 aS. Festival 13.7 a  129.9 a 106.6 b 321.1 b 112.3 b   683.6 b 17.9 b2012-13 Florida127 3.2 a  88.7 a 252.3 a 298.9 a 35.8 a   678.9 a 23.8 aF. Radiance 0.5 a  82.1 a 198.4 b 394.4 a 45.3 a   720.7 a 23.7 a S.Festival 0.0 a  101.5 a  133.2 c 298.5 a 11.0 b   544.2 b 18.1 b ^(z)Mean fruit weight was determined by dividing total marketable fruityield per plot by total marketable fruit number per plot. ^(y)Means arebased on four replications of 10 plants each. Means separation withincolumns is by LSD test, P ≦ 0.05.

TABLE 2 Fruit chemical measures on five dates over two harvest seasons.Cultivar SSC pH TA SSC/TA February 2011 FL 09-127  9.6 a^(z)  3.74 a0.788 a 12.17 a S. Festival 7.4 b  3.63 b 0.838 a  8.89 b F. Radiance6.4 c  3.66 b 0.787 a  8.11 c March 2011 FL 09-127 6.7 a 3.6 a  0.864 ab 7.81 a S. Festival 7.2 a 3.6 a 0.905 a  7.98 a F. Radiance 5.6 b 3.6 a0.793 b  7.07 b January 2012 FL 09-127 9.4 a 3.8 a 0.781 b 12.49 a S.Festival 8.6 b 3.6 b 0.931 a  9.25 b F. Radiance 8.8 b 3.7 a 0.808 b 10.98 ab February 2012 FL 09-127 7.3 a 3.7 a 0.759 a 9.63 a S. Festival6.1 b 3.6 b 0.808 a 7.60 b F. Radiance 5.8 b 3.7 a 0.721 a 8.11 b March2012 FL 09-127 6.9 a 3.6 a 0.717 a 9.67 a S. Festival 5.6 b 3.5 b 0.744a 7.49 b F. Radiance 5.0 b 3.6 a 0.689 a 7.22 b ^(z)Mean separations arewithin harvest dates and within columns by LSD test, P < 0.05.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant asillustrated and described herein, characterized by: (1) a moderatelycompact plant with long pedicels allowing for ease of harvest; (2) largefruit size; and (3) high early and total yields of bright red andmoderately firm fruit that are sweetly flavored when grown in westcentral Florida.